Making Exceptions (swanqueen)

Chapter 30: Making Exceptions(the end)

Regina sat in her study, behind her over-crowded mahogany desk. It was the end of the semester again, and not only did she have a couple hundred essays to grade, but she also had all the paperwork that came with being the head of a college. At least she had the entirety of winter vacation to complete it all. She also had a mother who would help her with all the files that had possibilities of confusing her, a son to entertain her, and a girlfriend to keep her busy.

The brunette smiled at the the thought of her family. If she were told ten years ago that she'd be a widowed mother and professor who falls in love with her female student, she'd scoff at the idea. It sounded like a poorly written lesbian romance novel. She didn't even want to think about the comic relief her mother and Kathryn would provide between the chapters of erotica involving herself and Emma.

Her mouth formed into a frown as she thought Emma. More specifically, how secretive the blonde was being lately. It wasn't just her girlfriend, though. It seemed that everyone knew some sort of secret about Emma but herself, and it was truly driving the brunette insane.

A knock sounded at the door, and a sweet, soft voice broke through the professor's thoughts.

"Sweetheart, I brought you a little snack," Emma said, shuffling into the room with a mug of coffee and an oreo cupcake.

Speak of the devil, Regina's mind supplied, but the words that left her plump lips were much different. "Thank you, my love," she said as Emma set the snack on her desk and leaned in for a chaste kiss.

"Absolutely," the blonde responded. "I figured you'd need a little something to keep you going, so I brought your favorite."

"My favorite?" the brunette asked haughtily, punctuating the sentence with a scoff. "What makes you think these fattening treats are my favorite?"

"Well, it could be the fact that you devour them every time Henry asks me to make some," Emma scratched her head, "or, it could be the sentimental value they hold between us."

Regina smiled at the memory of the day they met, and even let loose a light giggle. "I do seem to enjoy entertaining the memory of a bumbling blonde goofball stumbling in and apologizing for something that hadn't even happened yet. I even tend to enjoy the part where she pushed for friendship, but my favorite part," the brunette laughed once again. "My favorite part was when that blonde said I was a hardass and was afraid I'd kill her or hate her forever."

"In my defense," the blonde chuckled along with her girlfriend, "I had no idea I was speaking to you."

"Either way, the memories these delicious, carb-loaded treats bring back just enough lovely memories to definitely be worth the pounds I must be gaining by eating them."

"Can you really be complaining, though, babe?" the blonde questioned. "I mean, it seems to be going to all the right places. Plus, if you really want to work off all those carbs, I'm sure I can think of a few ways." Emma wagged her brows and winked, causing Regina to choke on her coffee as she laughed.

"And that, I believe, is your cue to leave." Regina stood from her desk, meeting her lips to her lover's before shooing the woman from the room. She fought off all of the blonde's reasons for staying in the room, and finally got the woman to agree to leave as long as she promised to grade Emma's essay next.

Regina sat back down and shuffled through papers until she finally found the one she'd been looking for. In the upper left-hand corner, she read the header:

Emma Swan

Prof. Regina Mills

Creative Writing 101